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Whether it’s a lack of sleep or swimming in a chlorinated pool, it’s usually obvious why your eyes are giving you trouble.
But sometimes what seems a routine annoyance could point to a deeper problem. Here, Angela Epstein reveals the potential causes of your eye symptoms..
RED EYES
Cold sore: Viruses or localised infections can cause the eye to redden — the problem usually starts in one eye, but can spread to both.
The cold sore virus, which 90 per cent of us carry, can sometimes also infect the eye, causing inflammation. Other symptoms of an eye infection include throbbing pain around your eye, sensitivity to light, (photophobia) and a watery eye. You may need antiviral drops or ointment from your GP. If you have a cold sore on your mouth, always wash your hands after touching it.
The cold sore virus, which 90 per cent of us carry, can sometimes also infect the eye, causing inflammation. Other symptoms of an eye infection include throbbing pain around your eye, sensitivity to light, (photophobia) and a watery eye. You may need antiviral drops or ointment from your GP. If you have a cold sore on your mouth, always wash your hands after touching it.
ritis: If the eye turns a deep red and you have throbbing pain at the front, this could be iritis or anterior uveitis — inflammation of the iris, the coloured part of the eye. This is triggered by an over-reaction of the immune system, though its exact cause isn’t known. The redness tends to start at the centre of the eye and spreads in a red ring around the centre within 24 to 48 hours. It doesn’t usually spread to the other eye. Treatment initially involves corticosteroid eye drops, though if there is infection, you may need antibiotics.
High blood pressure: Persistent red blotches on the whites of both eyes can be a sign of hypertension, explains Ian Grierson, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Liverpool. High pressure causes the blood vessels to expand or even burst, leaving red marks across the white of the eye (but not the coloured part).
Haemorrhage: If one eye suddenly becomes red without any other symptoms, then it could be a subconjunctival haemorrhage — where blood leaks in the thin layer of skin at the front of the eyeball. This is very common, particularly in older people. It can be brought on by a violent coughing fit, vomiting, or if you are prone to nose bleeds or bruising. It should clear up by itself within a couple of weeks, says Professor Grierson.
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